The "kiss" statue of a World War II sailor embracing a nurse will not be dedicated on Pearl Harbor Day after all.

The San Diego Unified Port District has yet to sign off on the design details for the bronze sculpture project, says its sponsor, the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum.

Midway spokesman Scott McGaugh said Friday that port planners are expected to review plans this week, and if they are approved, construction could begin by mid-month.

Port officials are only promising approval by year's end.

Officially called "Unconditional Surrender," the statue is a work by J. Seward Johnson II and is being cast by the Statue Foundation, based in Santa Monica. It is based on a photo shot in New York City at the end of the World War II.

A foam-urethane version was on display at the G Street Mole next to the Midway from 2007 until May, when it was removed for repairs.

The Midway committed to raising a projected $1 million for a permanent version in bronze and U-T Publisher Douglas F. Manchester is one of the donors.

McGaugh said the statue is ready for shipment to San Diego whenever the site at the foot of G Street is ready.

When the project was announced, the Midway had hoped to unveil it on Dec. 7, the anniversary of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

Now, he said, the target date is Feb. 16, just after Valentine's Day and during the Keep the Spirit of '45 national leaders conference in San Diego.

The "Wings of Freedom" proposed by the Midway aircraft carrier museum would consist of two sail-like art pieces, 500 and 400 feet tall, at the western edge of Navy Pier, next to the carrier. They would built out of steel and titanium and flank an amphitheater. — USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum

The "Wings of Freedom" proposed by the Midway aircraft carrier museum would consist of two sail-like art pieces, 500 and 400 feet tall, at the western edge of Navy Pier, next to the carrier. They would built out of steel and titanium and flank an amphitheater.
/ USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum

Meanwhile, an environmental impact report is nearly completed on the proposed $35 million "Wings of Freedom," a 500-foot sculpture resembling sailboat sails that would include at a park and parking garage on Navy Pier, servicing the Midway.

Businessman Denny Sanford has pledged the money to build the steel and titanium wings, meant to represent San Diego's naval and sailing history.

The report, which is expected to explore other locations for the sculpture, also will include analysis of several improvements for the downtown waterfront.

They include a new parking structure, 1.2 acres of additional parkland and other features of the next phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan.

Port spokeswoman Marguerite Elicone said the draft environmental report is expected to be complete late this month, perhaps in time to be discussed by the joint powers authority board composed of city and port representatives on Nov. 27 or 28.

After a 45-day public review period, the report would go to the port board and the California Coastal Commission and, if approved, pave the way for issuing a coastal development permit next June.

Financing, except for the wings statue, has yet to be secured for the next phase of improvements. The current phase, costing $28.6 million, is funded by leftover redevelopment property taxes, a source not likely to be available for the next phase.